A long term history of tooth decay-is this a strong indication of non-secretor status? I read on this website that type A secretors have the lowest incidence of tooth decay of all blood types, so wouldn't it stand to reason that a type A with numerous dental problems over the years would likely be a non-secretor?

I'd like to hear if there are others on this forum that are confirmed secretors have had significant tooth decay or gum issues, particularly type A's (I'm not just talking about a few minor cavities or gum sensitivity issues).

I thin this is merely a concern for nonnies'  

I'm guessing this is most likely a characteristic of a nonnie, but I suppose it's possible a secretor could regularly eat and drink foods high in sugar while not properly brushing well or removing the sugars off their teeth continuously and therefore end up with frequent cavities.

Still, I suppose we all know people who fit that description who never seem to have tooth or gum issues.

Adopted4, I agree diet is a big factor also. Lin

Nothing is definitive for secretor status but the lab test itself.

I don't have gum disease and haven't had a cavity in over 20 years. However, I do have a mouth full of mercury fillings from when I was a teenager. Once I started consistently brushing and flossing, and stopped consuming so much sugar, I stopped getting new cavities- even when I ate completely wrong for my type (I was a vegetarian for a few years.)

And I'm a secretor who has had trouble with my teeth off and on. Without any reason that I can find. I've never been a large sugar eater, and we always brushed our teeth. My mother had bad teeth so maybe genes have a place as well.

O-non with 28 years of perfect dental health... knock on wood.

I have GREAT teeth.  Compared to many.  

Eric, I'm curious about something. Do you know if you had sealants put on your teeth as a child when your new permanent teeth were in? This is a common practice these days to help prevent decay from forming on the surface of the teeth. There was no such thing available when I was a child, and since you're about half-way inbetween my age and the ages of my older children I'd like to know if it was available to you and your parents had it done?

My confirmed non-secretor son has not had problems with tooth decay (I think 1 or 2 small cavities in 10 years) and I credit that to the sealants that were put on his teeth years ago.

My dh and I were just discussing that today, and even though we have concerns about the chemicals used to make the sealants (particularly for an Explorer such as he), perhaps its still worth it in the long run. The dental work I've had to undergo in recent years as a result of old cracking fillings and teeth because so much of the tooth has been drilled away has been quite extensive. Even a crown I had for a long time because of a past root canal (I have 4) started developing decay under it and had to be replaced. YIKES EXPENSIVE! My dentist said that kind of thing doesn't happen much and couldn't explain why decay was forming on the tooth away from the gumline where there is no exposure to food or drink. Probably a non-secretor thing, I would guess, and I've been having a hard time justifying the expense of a secretor test when there seem to be other factors pointing to a non-secretor status for me. Eventually I will take the secretor test, but for now money is tight and I seem to be doing very well with my SWAMI giving me non-secretor food values.

Just asked my mom, and she said yes, all of my brothers and I had sealants.

Thanks Eric! I believe there have been considerable improvements in dental care over the decades, although I don't agree with the ADA's position on amalgam fillings and flouride treatments. Some people do suffer from fluoride and mercury toxicity and for those reasons our family no longer allows dentists to do fluoride treatments or use amalgam fillings when one of us has a cavity.

For the record, my mom had major gum disease as a young adult that resulted in her having all her teeth pulled (even while she was pregnant!). I'm willing to bet I inherited that non-secretor gene from her.

Sure thing.  I agree, every institutionalized health paradigm has its positives & negatives.  And I'm also very curious to know which parent I received my nonnie gene from...

Quoted from Eric

And I'm also very curious to know which parent I received my nonnie gene from...

Both. Unless you were asking a different question.

I'm guessing you don't know your parent's secretor status? Could be sec or non if you are nonnie.

I have no idea how the secretor gene is inherited.  My parents haven't been tested, though they probably would if I bought the kit for them.

I don't know that much, I am an O, probably non secretor, and have always suffered dental problems, fillings, gum rececssion, bleeding.
It has gotten better since reducing down intake of cane sugar, processed shop bought items, wheat, bread.
I floss everyday. and limit fruits, esp dried fruit - have cut down on sweeteners.  I also pay more attention to bowel/colon health, I take some triphala tablets (big in India) which helps move out body wastes every day; intestinal health can be related to dental/oral health.
plus drink green and ginger teas, etc

Quoted from Eric

I have no idea how the secretor gene is inherited.

Secretor is dominant. Therefore you got the recessive (non-secretor) from both parents.

However, either or both parents may be secretors since each might carry a single dominant secretor gene.

A more complete explanation of genes, dominant and recessive and how they are passed along would be easy to find on the internet or at a library if you are inclined to discover more.

An example from IfHI training would be that A and B bloodtypes are both dominant while O is recessive.

I'm guessing my dad was the nonnie and my mom is a secretor.  She is 94 and has all of her teeth.  My dad had terrible teeth.

Secretor who has had 10 mercury fillings removed and replaced with composite.  Loved sugar and butter on white bread sandwiches when I was growing up.

I am a secreter and have horrible teeth. I am lucky I have them I guess.

Quoted from DoS

I am a secreter and have horrible teeth. I am lucky I have them I guess.

Have you tried oil pulling?

DoS, do you know if you had sealants applied to your permanent teeth as a child? Would you describe yourself as a grazer, that is someone that continually eats or drinks throughout the day? My daughter once had a pediatric dentist emphasize the importance of not grazing as it breaks down the enamel on the teeth and actually has more implications on tooth decay than actual brushing habits.

Quoted from Adopted4

DoS, do you know if you had sealants applied to your permanent teeth as a child? Would you describe yourself as a grazer, that is someone that continually eats or drinks throughout the day? My daughter once had a pediatric dentist emphasize the importance of not grazing as it breaks down the enamel on the teeth and actually has more implications on tooth decay than actual brushing habits.

I think it is because of having a problem with wheat and gut flora balance from an early age.

Graze? Sometimes, but only if I'm visiting my parents essentially. When I was young I did, but now I just cook meals for myself.

Quoted from Lloyd

Secretor is dominant. Therefore you got the recessive (non-secretor) from both parents.

However, either or both parents may be secretors since each might carry a single dominant secretor gene.

Thank you, did not know this!  I suspect both of my parents might be secretors.

As an infant I had scarlet fever and I remember my dentist telling me when I was young that I would always have to be careful with my teeth as the enamel had been compromised by the illness. I never bothered much with cleaning my teeth and had a lot of fillings - root canal first after my first child aged 28. Have a mouth full of fillings/crowns etc. My current dentist always had to give my teeth a good clean annually and remind me to floss etc. I followed BodyTrim for 3 years (high protein-low carb but lots of veges and minimum fruit/sugars.) I was blown away by his comment after 12 months that my teeth were not so full of plaque as usual and to keep doing what I was doing. I thought it was the water I was drinking (over 2 litres every day) but it was also the change in sugar.

I have had a lot of dental work recently and had one crooked tooth removed 2 years ago and braces put on to get the teeth in line again. I have sensitive teeth and now clean/floss and use the little special brushes to get between the teeth to keep them as clean as possible at least 3 times a day. I believe diet ie basic lifestyle of too much sugar and not enough cleaning and drinking water daily contributed to my teeth issues.

Just FYI; I'm a nonnie and never had any dental problems at all.